From Bowling Ball to "Garden Art"

I've asked friends for any bowling ball they have discarded.  The one I'm going to use today is black and I will be using stained glass and mirror to cover the ball.  I'm always excited to get a colored bowling ball to cover with clear glass, because it glistens and the ball color shows through when the sun shines on it.

Broken bottles have also been a favorite glass of choice.  When I break bottles or any glass, I'm careful to completely cover with a towel or I place the bottle or glass in a thick bag.  Before I hit the first bottle or any glass with a hammer, I always wear goggles and leather gloves.

Having tried several types of glue, my choice for the ball is clear exterior Silicone 11 window and door sealer.  This is easy to use, water proof and dries clear. I'm going to use the silicone with my caulk gun .

Materials to use:

Stained glass & mirror

Glass cutter

Glass pliers

Cutting board

Tablecloth

Bowling ball & holder

Something to plug finger holes in ball.  I use wine bottle corks, grout, and anything that will help fill the holes.

Clear exterior Silicone 11 window & door sealer

Latex gloves

Grout, spoon & bowl for mix

Spatula

Mask

Leather gloves

Pot cleaner

Grout sealer

Large pan & funnel

The beginning

Let's begin by protecting the work table with a felt backed tablecloth. Now I will place a piece of stained glass on the cutting board and push or pull the glass cutter over the glass making scored strips. Take glass pliers (I use 2) to separate the scored glass into strips.  Now use the nippers to cut the strips in the size glass pieces you desire.  I will cut enough glass to cover the ball before I begin gluing the glass to the bowling ball.

  After I have used bottle corks to plug the finger holes in the ball, I'll place the bowling ball that is in the holder that I removed from the bowling ball bag on the table.  (When using clear glass, use craft paint to cover the writing on the ball.)

Cover the ball

After applying a small amount of Silicone to a piece of glass, add glass to ball. Continue gluing and placing each piece separately leaving a small space between each glass piece.  Glue and glass as much of the ball as you can reach without turning the ball onto your glass work. Let this section dry. I'm usually ready to rest by now so I'll wait and start again the next day. Day 2.  Turn ball and start adding more glass, stopping and starting as necessary for glue drying time. When ball is completely covered with glass, let dry for 24 hours to insure you don't knock glass off while grouting.

Grouting

Now I will cover the tablecloth with newspaper for easy clean up after grouting is done.

I use unsanded grout  because of the small spaces left between the glass pieces.  Grout comes in different colors and I've chosen black for this ball. It takes a small amount of grout to cover the ball.  I mix 1 1/2 cups grout following the box directions.  Add water slowly, if mixture is to thin, add more grout, if too thick, add more water.

I use a spatula to spread and work the grout.  The spatula is flexible and follows the curve of the ball. Continue spreading and working the grout, being careful to fill each space between the glass.  I continue going over my ball with the spatula in all directions.  This insures the spaces are filled and also works excess grout off the glass. 

Complete ball and when grout begins to look dry, (now you need the mask,  grout is dusty when dry) begin to wipe the glass with your leather gloved hand and dry pot scrubber to remove excess grout.  Rub the ball with the dry pot scrubber until all excess grout is off the glass.  Remove newspaper and discard. If after grouting your ball, you have grout left over, use it to fill the finger holes in another ball or be creative;  it will harden in the shape you leave it.  Let grouted ball dry overnight before sealing.

Sealing grouted ball

I use "Tile Guard" penetrating interior or exterior grout sealer to seal out water.

I will place the grouted ball in a large pan and pour the sealer over the ball.  Turn ball while pouring to insure all grout has sealer. Take the ball out of the pan putting it back in the holder and using a soft cloth wipe excess sealer off the glass.  This is cleaning the glass without using a wet sponge.

Using a funnel, I pour the extra sealer back into the sealer container. Cover ball three times with sealer, letting dry and wiping between each application.

Ball is finished, I have a one of a kind piece of "Garden Art"